"Hate her," Jimmy said. 

"Jimmy we know for sure you like her. You and all of your talking, useless inventions have told us so." Carl said referring to Goddard, the Better Salesman, Brobot, and many others.

"Ok. Let's say for a minute that you guys aren't nuts and I DO like her. So what she has shown no interest in me."

"She has to. Remember when your better salesman tried to sell you, she was the top bidder and would have won if you hadn't destroyed the stupid robot."

Amazed that he had skipped over that, and getting aggravated at Carl and Sheen for insisting on him telling them the truth Jimmy knew he had to say something, plus he had to get ready for his 'date'. "That proves nothing, besides we were PRETENDING I don't really like her. Anyways you guys had better be getting home I promised Mom I would do my three months of overdue chores by tomorrow morning."

Cindy's house 5:30

"Thanks for helping me get ready Libs. Are you sure you don't wanna come along and I'll have Jimmy bring a 'friend'."

"I'm positive, think of it this way; it will be just you and him all night… well at least until curfew." Libby said even though she really wanted to hang out with Sheen.

"True, I guess I'm just a little nervous, which is crazy since this is not a date. Are you sure this outfit is ok for a picnic?" Cindy asked referring to the purple silk shirt with the word 'Cutie' written in pink and the black skirt that went to just above Cindy's knee.

"It's perfect."

"If you say so, come on let's go see what my mom is up to."

Back at Jimmy's house 5:30

             "Goddard, Cimmy I want you two to record everything. Just make sure you're hidden, to her it's not a date but I want us to at least be alone.

"Why can't I be there, she likes me?" Goddard asked.

"And why do I have to hide?"

"Hello! I named you after the both of us… I don't want her to think I'm obsessed or something!"

"Are you?" Goddard asked.

"No! Yes… I dunno, if anyone does you do!"

"I still don't see why I can't be introduced."

"Fine, Cimmy, Goddard I know we haven't tested this feature yet but let's try human modes."

"She knows me already don't you think she'll catch on if I am in human form."

"Good point boy, Cimmy you sit on a bench somewhere near

And pretend to read a book until I tell you differently. Goddard, just wander around the park within hearing range."

  "Why are you so stressed out, everything will be OK?" Goddard asked.

Back at Cindy's house the doorbell rang.

"Cindy, your…" Cindy shot her mom a 'please don't say that' look. "Friend from school is here."

"OK." Cindy opened the door. "Hi, Jimmy," Cindy greeted him coyly.

"Hi, ready to go?" Jimmy said his mind once again lost in thought.

"Yea. Mom I am leaving, bye."

"Bye sweetie, have a good time."

"I will." After saying goodbye she stepped outside and Jimmy closed the door behind her.

"You look great." 'Oh man I should not have said that THIS IS NOT A DATE', Jimmy thought.

"Thanks, you don't look bad yourself." 'He's so considerate and nice, and incredibly cute.' They had reached the corner by this time. "I read the note you wrote."

"Oh, yeah" Jimmy said nervously. 'Oh, no she doesn't like me; she thinks I'm just a stupid shrimp with a big head.'

"And… well… first I want to think you for not reading my diary. That was very respectful of you."

"Oh, that… no biggie. I wasn't sure I wanted to know what you wrote about me."

Cindy stopped walking. "How do you know if I wrote about you or not if you didn't read it?"

"Sheen was talking to Libby and she told him. So he teased me about it."

"Did Libby tell him what I wrote about in particular?"

"No. He asked but she said she wouldn't betray your trust."

"Well, I do write about you," she starts speaking quieter "a lot of the time." They started walking again and walked       about half a block in silence while Jimmy allowed himself to let what Cindy said seep into his brain.

"Do you care if I ask you what you write about me?"

'Should I tell him? What does it matter he already said he liked me.' "Well… I usually write about how nice, or mean, or whatever you were to me that day."

"Oh," Jimmy said disappointment apparent in his voice, "just curious."

'Just go ahead and say it!' And in just above a whisper she said "And how much I like you. 'There you said it.'

It took no time for this to get to Jimmy's brain. Was he imagining this, did she really just say she liked him? He stopped walking and turned to face her. "What did you just say?" He asked.

 "I said I also write about how much I like you." 'Wait, didn't he just write a note telling me he liked me? What's his game?'

"I heard that but you LIKE me?" He starts walking again and she starts right behind him. "I was so sure you hated me."

"Since the day you moved in."

"Wow, well here we are. Uh…Mind if I ask you something totally off subject?"

"I guess not."

"Does Libby like Sheen?"

Cindy took a deep breath; "she talks about him a lot."

"Good talk or bad talk?"

Cindy smiled, "I can not betray my best friends trust."

"I'll take that as a yes. By the way thanks for coming' with me tonight."

"No prob'. I had nothing to do anyway."

Jimmy reached into his picnic basket. "Purple Flurp" he asked as he pulled out two cans?

"Sure, what's on the menu tonight?"

"Well, can we call this a date yet? Cause' I don't just give out my food to random beautiful ladies in the park" he teased.

Cindy giggled softly, "I already did when you first asked."

"Well then let's ask my latest, working invention, Cimmy. Cimmy, come out in regular form." Cimmy trots out Goddard not long behind her.

"Cimmy huh I am not even going to ask," Cindy said giggling again.

"What, she's just a female Goddard, except it's a bulldog so it should get along with Humphrey. Sides' I only made her cause I had nothing else to do but think about that night at Retroland. And since we both went to Retroland I named her after the both of us. Did I leave you any questions?" Jimmy added jokingly.

"I still have one."

       "What's that?"

       "Why me" Cindy asked?